A three-sport star at Lombard College in Illinois, Swanson played three years in
the NFL (1925-27) as an
end for the Chicago Cardinals before turning exclusively
to baseball. He was one of the fastest men in baseball during a period of heavy hitting.
He stole 33 bases and scored 100 runs in his rookie year for the 1929 Reds. In a
contest held between games of a doubleheader (9/15/29), he circled the bases in 13.3
seconds, a record that still stands.
(LRD)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»August 26, 1929: In the 8th inning of a 5–5 game at Wrigley Field, Cubs 3B Norm McMillan hits a line drive down the LF line with the bases loaded. Reds LF Evar Swanson, shaded toward center, can't find the ball, which he sees bounce off a gutter in foul territory. McMillan circles the bases and four runs score. Later, Cubs relief P Ken Penner picks up his jacket in the bullpen and discovers the ball in his right sleeve. It is Chicago's 8th grand slam of the year.
»September 15, 1929:
In a field day trial, former college track star Reds LF Evar Swanson circles the bases in 13.3 seconds. Two years later, with more sophisticated equipment timing him, he will do it in 13.2 while with Columbus (American Association).
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